Clitheroe 1-2 Prescot Cables 06-04-2019
With play off chasing Prescot in town, fresh from a huge cup final during the week and roared on by a raucous following, Clitheroe were unlucky not to take at least a point from the game.
With Alex Low back in the team, the only notable absences through injury were Max Hazeldine and Josh Gregory. Clitheroe almost had the perfect start on three minutes when Harry Blackburn was released and his shot took a looping deflection, which beat the keeper but was narrowly cleared off the line. They were quickly meant to pay for that miss when Prescot advanced down the right and when the resultant cross was shot towards goal, Ben Purdham could only block the attempt, leaving Blues’ old boy Lloyd Dean to nod home. The game was very even and on 19 minutes, Jason Jeffries burst down the right and with three attackers against one defender, his pass to Blackburn saw him shoot, forcing a superb save from the visiting keeper. In return, Purdham had to pull off a magnificent double save six minutes later after a dangerous Prescot break.
In the second half the game ebbed and flowed, and Purdham again had to make another cluster of saves to foil Dean after 52 minutes. On 58 minutes, Blackburn had another smart shot well saved following a cross from the impressive Bevan Burey. Four minutes later, the teams were level, when substitute George West was fouled on the edge of the box and his sublime free kick arched into the top corner. Prescot were stung into action and on 66 minutes, a free kick from the left was glanced into the goal by the Prescot skipper. Other chances fell to both sides, but on 86 minutes, the home team had a gilt edged one as Burey could only muster a weak shot after great interplay with two other attackers.
When the whistle went, Prescot knew they had ridden the luck, when a draw would have been the fairest result.
Team : Ben Purdham, Josh Snowden (Michael Wilson), Cole Lonsdale, Alex Low, Andy Langford, Jay Jeffries (c), Bevan Burey, Hyuga Tanner, Phil Marsh (George West), Harry Blackburn (Jacob Gregory), Antoine Recizac. Subs - George West, Michael Wilson, Jacob Gregory.
Not used - Ryan Botell, Cameron Terry.